Fillings & root canal treatment
Toothache? Sore gums or bad breath? This could mean that you have a cavity. Cavities (also known as tooth decay) are one of the most common health problems, however unlike other parts of our bodies – teeth don’t heal themselves! Early detection is key!
Your tooth is made up of different layers. It has a hard outer layer called enamel which covers a softer structure called dentine. Once decay has made its way through the tough outer layer and into the softer tooth material, the decay progresses much faster
What to expect
Fillings are needed when your teeth are damaged by decay. You might feel some sensitivity and pain when you eat. They're used to fix a hole in your tooth and restore it to its normal shape.
- We use composite fillings, which are natural-looking and come in various colors to match your tooth. Composite is set in the clinic and allows you to eat immediately. Fillings are usually done in just one visit.
- Sometimes we use porcelain or gold fillings, and they take two visits to complete. Amalgam (silver coloured) fillings are used from time to time, but not very common.less commonly used now.
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that helps alleviate pain caused by an infected tooth and help save a damaged tooth. If you have severe pain or a swelling, and experience discomfort when eating and drinking, this may be an indication that the decay has started to impact the nerve.
- Once the decay reaches the pulp of your tooth, a root canal filling will be recommended to save your tooth.
- The pulp has lots of nerves which is why these types of cavities are so painful.
- We carefully remove the inflamed pulp, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the inner surfaces of the tooth.
- Then we seal the space with a filling to secure healing and comfort.
Modern dentistry shouldn’t be painful. Our dentists will use a local anaesthetic to numb your mouth before removing the inflamed or infected pulp and using a special material to fill the root canals and pulp chamber. A tooth coloured filling is then placed on top.
How we help
Depending on the damage to your teeth, your dentist will decide what kind of filling is needed. All filling types will vary in cost. Your dentist will discuss the prices with you and help you make the right decision for your treatment plan.
